Israeli gymnast wins bronze in Worlds all-around final
“I’m really happy that I managed to prove to everyone how hard I work,” said Linoy Ashram
By ALLON SINAIUpdated: SEPTEMBER 3, 2017 09:12Israeli gymnast Linoy Ashram won an historic bronze medal in the all-around final at the World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships final, September 1, 2017.(photo credit: OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF ISRAEL)
Israel’s Linoy Ashram capped her remarkable summer with an historic medal at the World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Pesaro, Italy, on Friday, taking a bronze in the all-around final.The 18-year-old became the first Israeli to scale the podium in the all-around competition at the Worlds after joining Neta Rivkin as the only Israelis to win a medal in an apparatus final a day earlier.Ashram won a bronze in the ribbon final on Thursday, finishing with a score of 16.650. Rivkin, who retired following the Rio Olympics last summer, took a bronze in the hoop final at the Worlds in 2011.Ashram’s third-place finish in the all-around final, though, is far more significant, as Olympic medals are only handed out in the all-around competition.Ashram finished behind identical Russian twins Dina and Arina Averina in Pesaro, registering an overall score of 70.025. The Israeli recorded 18.375 in the hoop, 17.400 in the ball, 17.150 in the clubs and 17.100 in the ribbon.Dina Averina scored 74.700 overall and her sister Arina finished with 73.450.“I’m really happy that I managed to prove to everyone how hard I work,” said Ashram. “It is far from a given that I managed to win a medal at the World Championships, especially my first World Championships. I’m really excited and this hasn’t really sunk in yet.”Ashram’s success came on the back of a breakthrough summer.The gymnast won two medals at the recent World Games, taking a silver in the clubs and a bronze in the hoop. She dominated the Maccabiah’s rhythmic gymnastics competitions, sweeping all five gold medals.Ashram also took two medals at the European Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in May, finishing third in the hoop and clubs finals.
Ashram will be rewarded with a NIS 60,000 bonus from the Olympic Committee of Israel and the Ministry of Culture and Sport and will also begin receiving a monthly stipend of NIS 8,500 from the OCI.“This is so much fun and I want to thank everyone who has helped me,” added Ashram. “It is really fun to know that there are so many people supporting me and that only gives me more motivation to continue and work hard.”With the World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships being an annual event, Ashram will have two more chances to add to her medal tally before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. However, all her hard work is ultimately focused on achieving success in Tokyo and making more history by winning an Olympic medal.“This is amazing, crazy,” said Israel Gymnastics Association chairman Razi Peled. “This is a huge achievement by a wonderful gymnast who manages to scale new heights time and again.”
